Gotta say I personally am not too enthused. I find there to be absolutely nothing bothersome or inaccurate about the design; it truly is remarkable and stunning. I'm just not particularly interested in the set. I mean, even the price per part ratio is pretty darn good, but nothing about this screams that I have to forgo all potential LEGO collecting for a year just so I can pick this baby up.

I am the brain, that which keeps you saneI think your thoughts, I feel your painI am able to control both body and soulI am never asleep, and I make you whole.

i honestly don't think it's possible to have both highly detailed exteriors and interiors. it's one or both. in the case of the falcon they built it for strength and durability at the cost of an interior. what good is having a highly detailed interior if your model is going to fall apart? i'm pretty sure this is the same for the shuttle: strength and integrity first.

Mofo Jones wrote:I don't own the set, but is it possible to lift and carry the UCS Falcon with one hand? I'd think it would be a shade bulky for comfortable lifting, much less swooshing.

Lift and carry? Yes, it's very easy to carry and move around with one hand, you just have to be careful not to run one of the mandibles into a door jamb after almost tripping over one of your dogs.

Swoosh? Well... not so much swooshable, it's durable and stays together well enough to swoosh, but unless you've got really long arms I'd say it's just too awkward with the way you have to hold it in the middle.

I, too find it disappointing that a UCS shuttle wouldn't have the boarding ramp at all. And I also think it is kind of weak that the wings are independently controlled. Would it really be that hard to gear them so they moved in tandem by turning ONE key (unless I am misinterpreting that bit about two keys)? And finally, where is everybody getting this idea of retractable landing gear? It clearly says "detachable". Personally, I think retractable landing gear are unnecessary, so I don't see that as a drawback, though I kind of have to laugh at them actually listing the "detachable landing gear" as a feature. Hello? This is LEGO, isn't EVERYTHING detachable? I'd be shocked if the landing gear WEREN'T detachable.

But this does LOOK gorgeous (aside from the surprising lack of a boarding ramp). Too bad I could never afford it.

etcknight wrote:I'm glad LOC is making this, but I have a few issues with the design.

1) Ramp - as already mentioned. I'd be really disappointed if this wasn't part of a UCS offering.2) Technic bricks - I'm not a big fan of the "pot hole / dented" look of the wings due to the abundant Technic connector arms. I'm sure they're there for structural support - but I think the wings should have an overall "smoother" look.3) Cockpit size - from the pic, it looks like only 2 minifigs can be seated? In the movie, 4 minifigs fit in the cockpit - a la Millenium Falcon. So, if this is truly UCS / minifig scale, then 4 minifigs should fit into the cockpit.4) Nose of the shuttle - does not look accurate. That's going to require some MOC.

Love the retractable landing gear and moveable wings. Still not a fan of the new SW face prints though.

There is just no pleasing some people.

FWIW, I love the wing design. The liftarms give them a really nice textured look. I think it looks pretty cool

MenacingVitamin, the 2nd point that etcknight is making is very valid. Its pretty much the only reason that would actually put me off from purchasing the set. Would you buy a Lego Aeroplane, if there was 2 massive holes on the side of it, so that the doors could open a different way. I'm certainly not saying I think its a bad design, but it definitely detracts from the look of the model. It's really the main eyesore for this set. I'm presumably going to have to come up with a very altered version that would allow it to be enclosed.

Basically the Imperial Shuttle was famous for its sleek appearance, which these massive holes certainly do not convey or give it credit.